Blackout roller blinds are not generally used in homes. They are restricted for use in offices and other commercial organizations because they tend to be very plain and don’t give the same cheery atmosphere as a curtain does.
This at least is the impression that most of have about the roller blinds. If you however take the time to look up pictures online you will find that there are blinds starting from a plain Jane white or cream to bright pink and floral designs.
Of course the design is such that you cannot have any frills or pleats or gathers or anything else that you can do with a curtain. Yet the blackout roller blinds are not without their uses. Most of them cost around the $25 to $35 range and there are very few that go above this mark. This means that you can get any design you want on your blind and you do not have to pay more than $35, unlike curtains where you can get some for $10 and you can even get some for $150 or more.
They are also pretty sturdy and can take a lot of use. They are operated by a spring on the inside and over time they tend to become less springy, but they very easily last you for more than a decade if you want to keep them so long. This is especially good for children because you can get the kind of patterns that they will like and you will not have to pay too much for it.
If you son wants a Bob the builder pattern, just check how much a curtain would cost. If your daughter wants one with Tinkerbells on it you would have to pay twice what a blind would cost in the least. Then you have the added advantage of not having to wash blinds. Whatever your kids may throw at it all it needs is a wipe down with a wet cloth and it is as good as new.
The only problem as such with these blinds is that there is no halfway mark with them. Plus most of them do not cover the window completely and there is always some little bit of space at the bottom. This is the reason why it is not recommended for places like the living room. Yet these same issues would not be a big deal in the kitchen for example, especially if you have a window right above your stove.
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